The Representative of Saudi Arabia to the Meeting of States Parties to the Biological Weapons Convention in Geneva, and Minister Plenipotentiary Naif Bin Bandar Al-Sudairy has reaffirmed that the Convention of Prohibition, Development, Production and Stockpiling of Biological Weapons and their destruction constitutes undoubtedly one of the important pillars of the international system of security and stability. He expressed his delight over Saudi Arabia's intention to establish a workshop in Riyadh in December regarding Security Council resolution 1540, for which international officials and specialists from the Security Council and the Department for Disarmament in New York will be called in to highlight and promote the role of Saudi Arabia aiming at preventing non-States parties from acquiring, developing , transporting, transferring or using weapons of mass destruction. Al-Sudairy noted that the Saudi Government has recently organized an international workshop to raise awareness about the Convention and the role that can be played by the international community to curb weapons of mass destruction. In conclusion, he said that emanating from Saudi Arabia' keenness on peaceful co-existence and cooperation among States for the benefit of mankind and its desire for achieving peace and security, it has paid considerable attention to accession to the Convention on the Prohibition of Biological Weapons and agreements that promote peace and international stability and reduce the risks of wars in which internationally banned weapons can be used such as nuclear, biological, chemical, adding that Saudi Arabia has been one of the first countries that have signed and ratified the Convention in 1972 and calls on countries that have not yet acceded to the Agreement to take necessary action for accession.
